In 2004, John became a founding partner with St. Arnaud Pinsent Steman

Chartered Accountants “SPS” following a distinguished ten-year career with

Ernst and Young LLP as an Assurance Senior Manager and their Director of

Technology, Communication and Entertainment (TCE) assurance services for

Northern Alberta.  SPS is a three partner, 25 staff mid-tier general

accountancy practice providing corporate compliance and personal tax

services to the Alberta business community. 

At SPS, John specializes in the provision of accounting, audit, tax and business advisory services for entrepreneurial businesses of various sizes.  John has a particular passion for assisting early stage, high growth companies and has been an active angel investor and mentor to organizations in this space for a number of years.  During his many years in public practice, John has built a strong network of contacts from various industries and he regularly uses this support network to assist his clients and investee companies build value for the their enterprises. 

After completing his Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Commerce (AD) degrees at the University of Alberta, John began articling with Ernst & Young LLP (then known as Clarkson Gordon Chartered Accountants). He left public practice in 1986 to pursue experience in industry and became the Controller and Vice President Finance of an Alberta based international retail organization. During this time, John also acted as Managing Director of the company’s consumer finance division. Returning to public practice with Ernst & Young LLP in 1994, John received his Chartered Accountants designation in 1996.

John has a well-earned reputation for being a strong supporter of knowledge based businesses. He is active in a number of information, communication and technology (ICT) and biotechnology initiatives within the Province and serves on the Board of Capital Roads (annual presenters of the Banff Venture Forum and the Canadian Financing Forum) and various other industry initiatives.    

  
In 2006, John was awarded the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta (“ICAA”) Distinguished Service Award for his support of the Province’s high technology community.  Previously, he was the recipient of the ICAA Early Achievement Award in 2001 for his work with South American refugee support organizations and the 2002 Economic Development Edmonton Ambassador Award for his formation work on the Greater Edmonton Competitiveness Strategy including the creation of Edmonton’s Deal Generator angel network.   In 2013, John’s outstanding service to the accounting professional and the greater community was acknowledged when he was awarded a Fellowship (FCA) by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta. 

John currently serves as a director on a number of public company boards including Hyduke Energy Services Inc. (TSX) Synodon Inc.(TSX.V), Liberty Mines Inc. (TSX) and Enterprise Oilfield Group (TSX.V). With his strong professional accounting and corporate governance background, John has been able to assist these organizations in building shareholder value whilst securing their reputations for solid corporate compliance.  John earned his ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2010 and has extensive experience as both a Lead Director and as Audit Committee Chairman in the organizations that he serves.  John also services on the boards of numerous private companies including Innovative Trauma Care Inc., Smilesonica Inc. Picomole Inc. and IMBiotechnologies Inc. 

John understands the need to always give back to the greater community and has been actively involved in a number of local charities including Special Olympics Alberta (past Chairman of the Board), the Muttart Foundation, the Chartered Accountants Education Foundation, Catholic Socials Services’ Sign of Hope campaign, the Arthritis Society, the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis (Treasurer), the Sombrilla Refugee Support Society (Treasurer) and Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta. In 2012, John received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work and leadership within Special Olympics and his ongoing commitment to supporting the not for profit sector in Canada. 

John has three children (Chantal, Jonathan and Robert) who keep him young and active!  He also freely admits that his love for golf far exceeds his ability to play it.